Creating a specification

This area of our site is designed to help you produce a practical and accurate paint specification.

Preparing a specification can appear a daunting task if you've never produced one before, so you'll find step-by-step guidance under Preparing to specify. As well as advice on initial site surveys and the identification of previous coatings, you'll also find detailed supporting information and site work instructions. If you're more experienced, you'll probably want to go straight to DuSpec, a widely-used trade resource designed to help you as an architect, builder or any other professional materials specifier to generate painting specifications for all kinds of building projects. Registration takes just a minute or two and you'll then be able to create, save and amend all your specifications in one central and secure location.

We also have an area dedicated to Colour in paint specification, providing valuable information on the use of colour and contrast to enhance the environment for the visually impaired, plus guidance on the use of colour to identify different services.

If you'd prefer to concentrate on your core business and put the job of preparing a specification in the hands of experts, we have a team of Specifier Account Managers who will be happy to do the job for you.

Using DuSpec documentation as a painting specification on-site

The systems must be read in conjunction with the hard copy of ICI Site work instructions which give essential guidance to good painting practices. In order to achieve the optimum results it is extremely important to adhere to the Systems and Site Work Instructions quoted.

NBS subscribers only

Regular subscribers to NBS will be familiar with the unique formatting system employed. DuSpec has been designed to work closely with NBS in order that the minimum effort is required to convert the coating systems into the Section M60 format.